Elusys Therapeutics, Inc, a privately held biopharmaceutical company announced that it has been awarded a contract for $12 million for advanced development of Anthim, the company's late-stage anthrax therapeutic.
This project has been funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, Department of Health and Human Services.
Elusys, developing antibody-based therapies for the treatment of life-threatening infectious diseases, has received more than $32 million from NIAID/BARDA and the Department of Defense in support of Anthim and the company's Heteropolymer Antibody technology, said the company in a press statement.
"Elusys is encouraged by the continued support from the U.S. Government and we look forward to extending our collaboration with NIAID/BARDA. We are confident that Elusys has developed a highly effective and valuable anthrax therapeutic for procurement under Project BioShield for addition to the U.S. Government's Strategic National Stockpile," said, Elizabeth Posillico, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer, Elusys.
"Inhalation of anthrax spores rapidly leads to death if patients are not treated immediately with specific antibiotics. Typically, victims of inhalation anthrax experience only vague symptoms until it is too late, when they are in toxemia, leaving antibiotics largely ineffective. Anthrax vaccines are also ineffective unless victims are immunized well in advance of exposure. Anthim represents a 'just in time anthrax therapeutic,' that in relevant models has demonstrated complete protection against an anthrax spore challenge with a single prophylactic dose, and has shown significant protection when administered up to two days after a lethal spore challenge, with or without an antibiotic," Dr. Posillico added.
Anthim is high affinity monoclonal antibody that targets the protective antigen component of anthrax infection, blocking the bacteria's ability to form deadly toxins. It is being developed for prophylaxis and post-exposure treatment of inhalation anthrax. Anthim has been granted Fast Track status and Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA and is being developed under the FDA Animal Rule, a regulatory process specifically designed for the development of medical countermeasures to bioterror threats. In April 2007, Anthim was selected to R&D Directions' list of "100 Great Investigational Drugs.
HP Antibodies represent a new approach for the treatment of antibiotic resistant infections distinct from traditional therapies. HP Antibodies utilize natural immune system mechanisms to clear pathogens and provide a means to develop novel drug candidates targeted against bacterial, viral and fungal infections. By targeting a unique immune receptor, HP Antibodies enhance a natural clearance mechanism and direct the rapid removal of pathogens from the circulation to tissue macrophages. Elusys is currently working on novel approaches to the treatment of Staphylococcus and Candida infections using HP antibodies.